Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
That time we went river rowing.
On a windy saturday morning, we set out on a bite sized road trip to the beautiful lucid green Oxford. One hour drive through the scenic winding roads, we kept hoping for a no-rain situation to make the most out of an hour or two of rowing through the canals. Sun was playing peekaboo and when we reached, huge grey clouds crept over us. The autumnal chill had set in and it was getting very windy. Contemplating on the choice of the day and escapade, we decided to take the plunge anyway.
We reached the canal and it was flooded with eager bunches waiting to be punted along or to get their bum in the best boat around. It's always so amusing and entertaining to see people try to get their balance as they try and step in the boat and then break into splits of laughter. I mean, who needs to hire a boat when one can sit on the bank and watch that for a good laugh or two.
It was beautiful. We could have gone for the chauffeured punt but instead, got our adventure hats on and decided to take the oars in our hands. I mean, HIS hands. He did all the rowing while i settled in and steered him through the path.
I'm desperately trying to paint a beautiful picture where we row effortlessly through the gentle waves of the river and everything is magical and musical. But in reality ,we hovered with the boat for half an hour, hit other punts and ducked heads to save our face from branch whiplashes.
Half an hour in, he got the drift. The rhythm caught in and it became easy, calming and we sort of drifted with the ripples.
We were joined by couple of ducks eager to get fed with bread crumbs and two of these beauties who had absolutely no fear whatsoever.
After handing over the boat, we decided to have a peak inside the botanic garden nearby.
There was an indoor rainforest sorts which has been so beautifully maintained. The ginormous cactus soaring through the sky and touching the roofs prove the same.
Also, the photo above is a gentle nudge to myself to go easy on the cheese and tortilla chips.*runs to get the yoga mat*. And also, a memoir of what getting dressed in the dark looks like.
We saw so many unique and interesting plants which left us in wonder. Amazing what nature churns out, a reminder that everything and everyone has a purpose in this world.
The place is my idea of what heaven would look like.
I would like to quote a 90 year old grandma who spotted this the same time as me, "Look at the size of that f*cking pumpkin". I let out a laugh. I love cool grandmas.
We reached a greenhouse which screamed Kerala kalyana mandapam. The smell of jasmine was so overpowering that the malayali in me grinned with joy. Also look, bananas. Ah!
Overall, this place is ideal for a first date. Or an outing with family. Or with friends. Or for an anniversary. Basically it fits the bill for everything if you like lush green countryside with a calm river and couple of ducks to keep you company for an hour or two.
You know, nothing screams romantic more than a ride in the boat with a date. I only wish for more swans and it could easily match up to the scene in ‘Notebook’ . Will surely go again next summer. I love me some lush countryside!
The land of sand: Dubai.
It all started on a dry afternoon in March, with a text from the Mr. "Fancy a trip to dubai for easter?", the text said. He loves travelling; that guy, but the prospect of meeting my niece was more than enough for me to get on board. A spontaneous trip was planned and tickets booked the very same day.
The journey didn't exactly have the best kickstart, with us being held inside the flight for over two hours before take off owing to 'technical difficulties'. Not the kind of phrase you would want to hear before a six hour flight. Something wrong with the left phalange I thought to myself, giggling and horrified in equal measures. (FRIENDS reference right there for ya!). Claustrophobic and just wishing they would let us out and be on a flight which has both its engine in working order, we waited.
Dubai welcomed us with a heavy sand storm. Typical. The minute we got out the airport everything was yellow, with minimum visibility or air to breath! Luckily, it remained a guest only till noon. The succeeding three days were filled with laughter and fun. We drove around giant sand dunes and 'DID NOT' freak out at the huge ascend and decent of the 4X4, the guys got on camels one of which nearly attacked Prakash leaving us in splits of laughter. We relished on arabic cuisine, went to Marina and witnessed what can only be described as fairylight heaven. I kissed Soul the dolphin and bought a swimwear worth 150 pounds because I was stupid enough to not take a spare set of clothes. Well, you win some, you lose some. Isn't that how it goes?
I haven't seen a better contradictory city than Dubai. Posh and luxurious but dusty, humid and hot. Vast and developed but busy and congested at the same time. Travelling from a place filled with greenery and lushness to a dry, posh city with never ending sky scrappers was definitely a change of scene for us. I just wish it wasn't as dry and humid as it is, unless which, I would pack my bags and move to the land of sand in an instant.
Dungaree and beanie for fall.
*Removes cobwebs; enters waving awkwardly and a grin plastered on the face*
Hello. It's been a while. A whole three months I believe. Life has been pretty darn busy, stressful and moving at the pace of a jet train. I would just like to assure that I am still alive and haven't abandoned this special little place on the internet but just caught up in the whirlwind that is, LIFE. And once things settled, I just couldn't get myself to write again. Blogging jitters are real, people! Thanks a million to friends who still check and ask about the blog and let me know that they miss it. You lovely, lovely lot!
Exploring Cotswold.
Spending a weekend inside the cosy comforts of home is heavenly but planning a wonderful weekend away, where you load up the car with wellies/umbrellas (it's England after all), food, coats, and hit the road, has its own kind of zing. I have always been a country girl and since being here, i have developed a very deep love for the old English countryside. Nothing can beat the lushness and serenity the country side can offer. Big cities and sky scrappers suffocate me. Thus, Cotswold, a classic English village renowned for it's honey-limestone bricked cottages, had to be in the list of places to visit .
It’s been quite a while since our trip. May 2015, to be precise. The first day of it is documented in this post. The day spent in the cabin was something we both would never forget. A totally different but fun experience. Since we had booked only a day in the cabin, we packed up the next morning and set out to explore the rest of the village. It was perfect weather. A bit of chilly breeze but the sun shone in all it's glory. Not having any set destinations as such, we drove around sinking in the visual delights of the place till we reached our hotel. The navigation took us through winding country roads, past farms and open canola fields.
Weekend at Cotswold
My happy place: BRIGHTON
I have been really lucky to travel quite a bit with my husband in the course of three years, but never in my life has a city made me feel like the way I felt in Brighton! Not to brag but I have been to few of the loveliest and breathtaking places. As much as I loved visiting those places, none has ever impacted me the way Brighton has. Well, I have always had a thing for beaches. But I reckon, its not just the pebbled beach that has done the trick. Maybe its the cobbled roads, the quirky lanes, the promenade with green bars matching the green sea. The squawking seagulls, the pier, pastel houses or the pavilion? Or maybe its the constant wind and the salty air? Maybe all of these? I can't put my finger on what it is about the city that pulls me to it so much. To sound cliched as ever, it was definitely love at first
Two weeks of pure bliss
June 2nd, 2014. The day I was waiting, planning, dreaming and looking forward for almost four months. My family decided to cross the seas and spend two weeks with us in the UK. My parents had this trip long overdue. So they sorted their schedule out, pulled in my brother and family and planned out a mini vacation. And needless to say we were beyond excited to host them.
Lo and behold the day came after all the wait and our usually quiet house of two, filled with the laughs of six and the giggles of a toddler!
In the world of magic spells
Ever since the release of the series of books by J.K.Rowling and having read all of them, I have been OBSESSED with Harry Potter movies. I remember being in the 10th grade, when I first got my hands on 'Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone'. It was a refreshing change from the genre of books I was used to reading. I was more into medical thrillers by Robin Cook and the sorts.
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